Research Development Fund

The call is now open.

The WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) provides grants of up to £10,000, for one year, to foster research collaborations among academic staff at WUN member universities. Grants from the RDF are intended to help stimulate larger collaborative projects that will strengthen WUN and have impact, for example through giving rise to influential publications or making the collaborating partners competitive for major grants.

The RDF supports research projects directed at problems that lie within the network's principal research theme of sustainable development, and on which a diverse team of collaborating partners confers distinct advantage. These will often be problems where comparative analysis is important.

WUN invites proposals that address problems in one or more of the following areas within the context of sustainable development:

  • Social justice and human rights; inequality
  • Sustainable world: cities and urbanization; energy transitions; water, and food security
  • Mental health; child and maternal health; ageing
  • Responsible and ethical applications of Artificial Intelligence

Eligibility

The RDF is open to academic staff at WUN member universities. A project must engage at least three WUN member universities across at least two regions. Projects may include non-WUN universities and external partners but must have an active core of WUN member universities. Projects led by early career researchers are especially encouraged. 

RDF 2026 submission timeline

Each member institution is limited to one submission (as the lead university). Bristol researchers interested in applying should therefore follow the timeline below to allow for internal shortlisting.

Information on current and previous RDF projects can be found in WUN's research projects database.

Please contact Jo Brooks, the WUN Coordinator for Bristol, if you are interested in applying and/or have any questions.